Thomas langston



(No Model.)

T. LANGSTON.

i i LANTERN. No. 279,403. I Paitented June 12,1883.

` l UNITED '-STATES PATENT] OFFICE.

THOMASLANGSTON, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO EDTV.

` MILLER &` CO., OF SAME PLACE.

LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 279,403, dated June12, 1883.

Application filed March 16, 1883. (No model.)

Zo all whom t may concern vBeit known that I, THoMAs LANGsToN, ofMeriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new Improvement in Lanterns; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and thcletters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, .in-

Figure l, a sectional side view; Fig. 2, asection through the ring H,showing the stud in the locking-slot; Fig. 3, a modication; Fig.

4, a modification of the lower globe-holder. Y

This invention relates to an improvement in lanterns such as areprovided with a fomit for oil, made as a permanent base to the lantern,a concentric burner, a globe resting upon the base around the burner,and with aring resting up on th e top ofthe globe, through which theproducts of combustion escape, commonly called hand-lanterns;7 and whilethe invention is particularly adapted to that class of these lanterns inwhich the air to support combustion, or a portionv of it, is receivedthrough vertical tubes opening from above and leading the air downwardinto thebase around the burner, whence it passes up through the burnler,it is applicable to other classes of lanterns,

the object of the invention being to construct the globe-holdingdevices, so that the globe and its supporting devices may be readilyraised for the purpose of trimming or lighting, and yet permit the easyremoval ofthe globe from the lantern when occasion requires; and theinvention consists in a globe combined with a support for its base and asupport, for its neck, each independent of the other, and

springs arranged to force the base and neck holdingdevices upward toclasp the globe between said base and neck holding devices, the saidneck-h ol ding device provided with a locking mechanism which willsecure the globe and the holding devices in their down or closedposition, said springs permitting the 'separation of the base and neckholding devices, whereby the globe may be removed, as inore fullyhereinafter described.

g A represents the base of the lantern, B the burner, C C the tubeswhich conduct air into the base, D the flange around the top, whichsupports the upper end of the tubes, all of a construction too wellknown to require detailed description.

E is a plate which surrounds the cone of the burner, preferablyperforated, and upon which .plate the lower end of the globe F rests.

G- G are two vertical tubes, one arranged at `each side, and secured inposition, may be, to

the tubes C C or to the iiange D. Vithin these tubes a helical spring,a., is arranged, resting on an internal ange, b, at the bottom of thetubes, and through each of these springs a rod, d, extends upward,provided at its upper end with a disk or head, e, which rests upon theupper end of the spring. These rods are connected 4to the plate E by anarm, f, or otherwise. The tendency of these springs is to force theplate E upward. Therefore when the plate E is in its lowest positionaround the cone the springs are compressed within the tubes, as shown inFig. l, so that the reaction of the springs will be to raise the plateE. At the upper end the usual ring, H, is arranged through the flangel), but so as to be moved and guided freely up and down through saidiiange, and is provided with the usual windguard, I, atthe top. Thisring H'iits the neck of the globe, and is provided with an inverted-L-shaped slot, 71, into which a stud, fi, on the flange l) extends. Thevertical part of the slot permits the ring to be moved up and down; butwhen down and turned to take the stud into the horizontal part of theslot the ascent of the ring is prevented. When the ring H is in its downposition and locked by having been turned to bring thestud e. into thehorizontal. part of the slot, the-globe and its plate E will have beenforced down to their lowest position and the springs compressed. Thenwhen the ring H is turned to bring the stud 'i into the vertical partofthe slot the springs draw up the base and globe and throw up the ringuntil the lower end of the vert-ical part of the slot strikes the stud,and as seen in broken lines, Fig. l. The springs pull upward upon theglobe and retain the globe between its holding devices in this upvposition, and so far above the burner that the wick may 'be trimmed orlighted or the name extinguished, as the case may be. Then to return IOOthe globe, simply press the ring H downward until the horizontal part ofthe sloth again engages the stud If at any time it is desirable toremove the globe, it is only necessary to take hold of it with one handand hold it in its down position, while with the other the ring H israised from the neck of the globe so as to free the globe from itsconnectionwith said ring. To replace the globe, set the lower end uponthe plate E while the ring is raised press it downward until the neck ofthe globe will pass under the ring; then the spring will draw the globeup Y into contact with the rino'.

While I prefer to arrange the tubes for the springs above, and so as todraw up the globe, they may be below, as seen in Fig. 3. case they havesubstantially the same action upon the plate E or holder for the lowerend of the globe.

While I prefer the inverted- L-shaped sl ot 71, with the stud, as ameans for locking the upper holding-ring in its down position, it willbe readily seen that other locking or latching mechanism may beemployed, it only being essential that the securing mechanism i'or theneck of the globe shall be free for vertical movement, and locked tohold the globe in itsf down position, and yet independent of the lowerholding devices, so that the said hold{ ing devices may be separated forthe removal ofthe globe, as hereinbefore described.

Thile I have illustrated the ring H as arranged through the flange D asa guide for its vertical movement, in other classes of lanterns adifferent arrangement for such guiding may be made, it only beingessential that the holding devices for the upper end of the globe shallbe i'ree for vertical. movement, `either under the action of the springsor independent thereoi', as hereinbei'ore described.

Instead of connecting the rods with the springs so as to compress thesprings by the downward movement of the lower holder, the'v springs maybe secured at the upper end and the rods attached to the lower end, sothat the downward movement of the lower holder will extend the springi,and then the contraction of the springs will raise the holder.

In this In some eases the plate E is not employed, the globe standingdirectly on the base. In such case the support for the lower end oftheglobe, and to which the springs are attached, will be a ring around thelower end of the globe, as seen in Fig. 4. In some cases the plate E maybe made fast to the base, and the same ring as shown in Fig. 4f.employed as the support or holder i'or the lower end oi' the globe.

I claiml. In a lantern substantially such as described, the combinationof a holder for the lower end of the globe, springs in connectionYV withsaid lower holder, the action of which is to raise said holder, a globesupported on said lower holder, and a holder for the upper end oi' theglobe, arranged for vertical movement and independent of the lowerholder, with a locking device to secure said upper holder in its downposition, substantially as described.

2. In a lantern substantially such as. described, the combination of aholder for the lower end of the globe, a holder for the upper end of theglobe, a spring or springs in connection with. the holder for the lowerend of the globe, the action oi' which is to raise the said lowerholder, globe, and upper holder, and a locking device to secure saidholders and globe in the down position, substantially as described.

The combination of the .lower globeholder, vertical tubes G, helicalsprings a, arranged therein, with rods d, connecting said springs withsaid lowei.` globe-holder, the ring H, supported in suitable guidesabove and arranged to embrace the neck of the globe, and with a lockingmechanism to secure said ring, globe, and lower holder in their downposition, substantially as described.

4. In a lantern, the combination of a globe arranged to slide up anddown with a spring arranged to lift the gl obe and hold it in its raisedposition and a fastening to hold it in its de pressed position,substantially as described.

THOMAS LANGSTON.

Vitnesses z BENJ. C. KENNARD, FRED-. S. VILLLrMs.

